BIO
Ben Wilson was an outstanding junior footballer and in 1994 captained the powerful Rostrevor College First 18 side. Coached by Tim Hart (Norwood Reserves coach, 1996-1999), the team also included several other future senior footballers - Kieran Barrett (Swan Districts), Tom Carr (Port Power), Jared Crouch (Sydney) and Ben Kemp (Norwood).
Wilson represented South Australia in the 1993 and 1994 national Under 17 Teal Cup competition and was named in the All-Australian team at the completion of the 1994 series.
At the end of 1994, Collingwood selected Wilson with its first selection in the National Draft. He had originally decided to play out the 1995 season in the SANFL, however after 12 games for the Norwood Reserves he succumbed to persistent pressure from the Collingwood Football Club and decided to play in Victoria.
Wilson planned to train at Rostrevor College during the week and fly to Melbourne for the weekend matches. He was greeted by several ex-Redleg footballers at Collingwood's Victoria Park - namely Scott Burns, Brett James, Craig Kelly, Ben Kemp, Tony Francis, Stephen Patterson and Steven Pitt.
An athletic footballer, "Willow" was capable of playing at both ends of the ground and started his career with the Magpies Reserves in the back-pocket.
He played two AFL games in 1996, but was then traded to Sydney as part of the deal that saw Anthony Rocca move to Collingwood. Wilson played four AFL games for the Sydney Swans in 1997.
Back at The Parade, he made his SANFL senior debut in Round 1, 1999. He played 11 League games for the year, but missed selection in the Grand Final. He began the 2000 season in impressive fashion, kicking six goals in the first round encounter against West Adelaide, scoring 5.2 in the third quarter.
He made his 50th appearance for the Redlegs in 2002, and played his 66th and final game in 2003.
In 2004 and 2005 he played 20 league games for South Adelaide, and in 2006 joined the Rostrevor Old Collegians Football Club in the South Australian Amateur Football League.
R Cialini Feb 2017